Wire-tightener.



No. 7l5,062. Patented Dec. 2, I902. J. W. HEADLEY.

WIRE TIGHTENEB.

(Application filed Apr. 22, 1902.)

(No Model.)

TTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH \V. I-IEADLEY, OF COOPER, ALABAMA.

WlRE=-T|GHTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,062, dated December2, 1902.

Application filed April 22, 1902.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. HEADLEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residingat Cooper, in the county of Chilton and State of Alabama,have invented new and useful Improvements in Wire-Tigbteners, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to a wire-tightener, and though capableofdifferent uses it has been found to be of peculiar adaptability inconjunction with bedstead-braces, in which use it serves to place thewires of the braces under proper tension; and the objects of theinvention are to provide a thoroughly strong and efficient device ofthis character which can be readily operated, it necessary, by one hand.

The invention will be hereinafter described in detail, and the noveltythereof will form the basis of the claims succeeding such description,and said invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,forming part of this specification, and inwhich- Figure 1 is a top planView of a wire-tightener including my invention. Fig. 2 isa sideelevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a crosssection thereof, and Fig. 4 adetail view in perspective of a hub.

Referring now to the drawings, the numerals 10 and 11, respectively,indicate the upper and lower parts of the wire-tightener. The lower partof the device includes in its construction a body 12, which is shown asbeing circular and which has a series of rigid arms 13 extendingradially therefrom, three of such arms being shown and as beingequidistantly disposed. While in the present case the arms are shown asbeing integral with the body, this of course is not essential, for theymay be otherwise formed, and such parts may be made of any suitablematerial. The lower part 10 is in the nature of a wrench, and it carriesa pawl, as will hereinafter appear, adapted to cooperate with a ratchetupon the upper part. The upper part 10 also includes in its constructiona body 14, which is provided with the arms 15, extending radiallytherefrom at diametrically opposite sides of the body, and these parts,as in the case of the lower member of the device, may,

if desired, be made integral. The body 14 of Serial No. 104,181. (N0model.)

at its butt-end, thereby producing a bifurca-v tion which is adapted tostraddle one of the radial arms 13 near the inner end thereof, a pivotof some suitable kind connecting the pawl with the arm which sustainsthe same.

The working end of the pawl is normally held in engagement with theteeth by a coiled spring 19, the ends of which have eyes connected topins or studs on the pawl and its carrying-arm, respectively, and itwill be seen that the spring is connected with the under side of thepawl and extends inward from the same, so as to be out of the way of thehands when the device is being operated. The body 12 of the lower parthas a central and square opening 20 to receive the lower square end ofthe hub or plug 21. Upon said hub is formed an annular shoulder 22,which is adapted to fit into the reduced portion of the central opening23 in the body 14, said hub having a second annular shoulder or flange24 above the other annular shoulder, which fits in the upper part of thecentral opening 23, which, it will be seen, is of greater diameter thanthe lower part of said central opening. The upper face of the hub orplug 21, it will be seen, is flush, or substantially so,

The pawl is with the upper face of the body 14. The

squared lower end of the hub 21 is surrounded by a washer 25, of somesuitable material, and is perforated below the washer to receive the pin26, whereby the hub is held in place, and as the annular shoulder orflange fits against the body 14 the parts will be held assembled whenthe pin referred to is in place. By removing such pin the parts can bequickly separated.

Upon the upper side of the body 14 are situated the hook shaped lugs 27,which are adapted to overhang the brace-wires when the wire-tightener isin place within the bedstead-frame or otherwise set up for use.

Upon the upper side of the hub 21 are situated the jaws 28, havingbeveled faces 29, four of such jaws being shown, and between which thebrace-wires (not shown) of a bed are adapted to be passed, and by virtueof the beveling of the jaws the power necessary to tighten such wires isdecreased, such beveled faces acting in the nature of cams.

In using the device in connection with the wire braces of a bedsteadsuch wires (four in number) are passed under the free ends of thehook-shaped lugs and between the jaws 28. Then the operator by graspingone of the arms 13 of the lower part 11 and an arm 15 of the upper partcan operate such arms so as to place the wires under tension, the pawl17 serving to rotate the ratchet, and thereby the upper part 10.

While, as set forth hereinbefore, my device is adapted for tighteningthe wires of a bedstead-brace, it is obvious, of course, that it can beemployed with equal facility for other purposesfor example, fortightening wires in bridge and other construction. Therefore it will beunderstood that the invention is not limited to any particular use ofthe appliance.

Having described the invention, what I claim is- 1. In a wire-tightener,a lower part having arms and a squared central opening, and an upperpart also having arms and a central circular opening of two diameters,the upper part of said circular opening being of greater diameter thanthe lower part,andahub having a squared lower end fitted in said squaredopening and superposed shoulders of different diameters fitted in therespective portions of the circular opening, said hub also having jawsand the upper part having guide-lugs, a pawl on an arm of the lowerpart, and a ratchet'on the upper part adapted to be engaged by the pawl.

2. In a wire-tightener, a lower part having arms and a squared centralopening, and an upper part also having arms and a central circularopening of two diameters, the upper part of said circular opening beingof greater diameter than the lower part, a hub having a squared lowerend fitted in said squared opening and superposed shoulders of differentdiameters fitted in the respective portions of the circular opening,said hub also having jaws and the upper part having guide-lugs, aslotted pawl, the slot of which is adapted to receive an arm of thelower part, and a pivot passing through said arm and pawl and a springconnected respectively to the under side of the pawl and to the armwhich carries the same.

3. In a wire-tightener, a lower part having an arm and a central squaredopening, an upper part also having an arm and a central circular openingof different diameters, the portion of greater diameter being locatedabove the portion of less diameter, a hub having a squared lower endfitted in said squared opening and having superposed shoulders abovesaid square portion fitted in the respective portions of said centralopening and having beveled jaws upon its upper end, a pin passingthrough the lower end of the hub, guidelugs upon the upper side of theupper part, a ratchet carried by the upper part, and a pawl on the lowerpart adapted to cooperate with said ratchet.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit- DBSSGS.

JOSEPH W. HEADLEY. Witnesses:

JULIUS T. RICE, J. SMYLY CATTS.

